Wire doffing mechanism for planters



Nlaylg, 1931. H, WHITE 1,895,596

`WIRE DOFFING MECHANISM FOR PLANTERS Filed Sept. e. 1927 M dm- ,Patented 119,*1j93lg`V I CHARLES i Y Morane; innriioie winnnoiirriie einer;

Application Yled'v Septeinhei' The present invention relates to planting V.implements designedwfor check row. plantin and has particular reiterencejto. mechanism for dofling the check-wire from; the planter at theends of the rows. L

Heretofore, the operationL of dorling the check-wire has been performed` either as directV manual d'operatiom effected througha foot pedal'or the like, or as a secondarfyipart of the operationV ofliting the planter run'- neisjat'the ends of the rows, effecte'dffor example throughl linkage connecting the lifting lever with the check headsl In either case, it will beV evident':thattheffoperation of doiingthe wire requires somefact on the part of the operator, and hencefthere isrno assurancethat the wire .will always be doifed f at the same pointiat'theends ofthe rows i.V e. along the sametransverse line yat each end of the ield. It therefore follows that according to these priorfmethods of dodging,

the lantin o erationis fre uentlfi con- P g P tiiiuedy too tar or not far,V enough to ksecure uniformity of planting-.lor crosscne'cling at the ends of the field; and furthermore,

that in inany'instanees the planter isallowed to run up soclose tothe anchor stalrebefore clotting that the wirefis placed'und'erfanfohvjectionable tensioinsuch bemg causedjby lthe relatively sharp angle` which' must"y Vthen* vbe assumed Vhy thatY portionv of the wire extending between the anchor stake and ,theplanten The principal objectofy the present inven-` to overcome these objections by pro' tion is riding 'in the a diierent method of d oliingl,A wherecertain fixed point on the wire;.correspond-r ingto the end ofthe row. More particular y, this is accomplished by mountingoii the check-wire, at each endv of -the row7 arela-y tively large projection `or doifing button..- which is utilized totrip the check-head, Jfor` opening the samewhen the planter rreaches sail button. Y l

vcheclnwire is dotted entirelyk autoi. matically ywhen the planter comes Tupf-"to a srAres PfrENjF'l-ICE s wnrrnp, or" iieniiin; riniii'ois, nesieiion Tenir-ann s; COMPANY,

,Ascaron-.erroricriminels Treia so riiiiiireiis ve; 1927. serial no. 217,569...

vc'ntion,` for accomplishing the foregoing', is

ner byeu doiiing proj ection on the wire.

to provide an improved construction of check.- head which can be tri ed onen in this mann 1, Another kobject of the invention is to .pro-1 Y vide a ,novelconstruction of doiiing button which vcan be attached togand detached i'roin the' clieck-wirein a simp'laeasy operation;

and'toprovide such a buttonwhioh'caneifect A interlocking engagement with one of qtl'ie ordinary,checleioivbuttons on the wire, so that the dctiing button will :notshift along ther wire.

f {The above described dong .mechanism is ofpartic'ularv advantage fortractor propelled planters since, by'relieyingthe operator of .the necessity of calculating 'when theend ofi i therow'has heenrreached and .of dong the wire at-such'poiiit, it enables{himto4 devote all of his attention ,tothe steering ofthe tractor andto'the performance ofother opi erationsy Moreover the llocationo'the `doffer i V`button' on the wire forms a gage point for iu- 'dicatmg where. the-next row for.v set of' rows siiould be started iny thel opposite travel oi"- the iniplenientQV It will he understood, Aof coursepthat thesefadvantages are alsochtained in the adaptation of my invention to horsediawn planting implements. i `5 tionihkk f Y flieg,l l isaplan View of the check-heath yshowingthefdofng button mounted on the checlewire'." K ce? elevational view of the A'Figo' is a similarview showing the button open, andv Fig. 6 is afsectional View through the button.7'talen on the planeetl the line 6 6 oi 'y Referringfto the accompanying drawings illustrating a` preferredfform of inveir rihe tension exertedlony the wire Eby driving f is a transverse sectional View Inasn'iuch as-the aforementioned type of planting implement is old and welllinown have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same. For the purposes of the present description, it will sutlice to say that the trame bar 9 represents a side portion of the implement. Mounted on this trame bar is the check-head 10. It will be understood that mounted on a correspondingframe bar at the other side of the implement is a companion check-head whichis a'mate to the checkhead shown, these two check-heads being used alternately in the travel of the imple-- ment in opposite directions across the field. Both chec -heads have the usual operating connection with rthe seed dropping valve mechanism, also well known.

Each check-head is mounted on a. U-shaped ybracket or .bar 11 which is boltedfat 12 to the implement frame member 9. The head comprises a' stationary frame 13 which is suitably secured, as by bolts 14, to the bracket 1.1. A lower cross web 15, constituting partof the stationary rame,'is formed with a bearing' boss 16 in which is pinned one end of a transverse bearing pin 17. The other end of the bearin pin is mounted in an aligned hole in the brac (et 11. Pivotally mounted on such bearing pin 17 is a check fork, comprising a lower bearing sleeve 18 and an upper fork member 19. The rotatable mounting of the bearing sleeve 18 on the pin 17 provides lor the fore-and-att swinging movement ot the check fork. Extending upwardly from the bearing sleeve is a bifurcated member 21, between the arms of which passes a pivot bolt 22. The fork 19 is pivotally mounted on the bolt 22 for swinging movement transversfvly .of the implement. The lower portion of the fork 19, below the pivot axis adapted to engage with stop lugs 23 on the member 21, for limiting the outward and downward rswinging movement of the fork in dol'ling the wire, as will be presently described. The fore-and-aft swinging of' the fork is transmitted tothe seed dropping valve mechanism through an arm 24 and link 25. A stop Y 26 limits such movement of the fork in a tory 13 for outward swinging movement.

ward direction. The motion.transmitting linkage which connects the check fork with the seed dropping valve mechanism usually comprises spring means which normally tends to hold the fork against the stop 26.

The upwardly extending, divergent arms of the stationary frame 13 are cross connected yby an upper web or bar 27. Pivotally mounted on upper extensions of such arms are guide spools or rollers 28 having a flange 28a which have their axes disposed substantially horizontal. The check-wire C passes under such spools in traveling through the check-head. The check-head also comprises a movable frame 29 which is pivotally supported on the stationary frame Such swinging frame consists of a bar 29 having downwardly curved ends 31 which are pivoted at 32 to the upwardly extending arms of the stationary frame. Two guide spools or rollers 33 having a flange 33a are pivotally supported on the swinging frame on substantially vertical axes disposed just inside of the end rollers 28. Vhen the checkhead is closed the two pairs of spools guide the check-wire into the front end of the check-head, through the vcheck fork 19, and out ot the rear end of the check-head, as the implement travels along the wire.

The check-wire shown at C is representative of the typical form of check-wire which now most commonly used. The check row buttons B are produced by forming interenkgaging eyes or loops in the adjoining ends ,of the Wire sections, and also by forming shoulders or projections at the inner ends of such loops as by coiling the ends of the wire sections several times upon themselves.

These check row planting buttons B can readily pass between the guide rollers or spools 28-33 but are of larger size than the lower end of the slot in the check fork 10. Hence as each button strikes such fork it causes the fork to swing rearwardly for actuating the seed dropping valve mechanism. The buttons clear themselves from the fork by slip ing through the widened upper end of the ork.

The main bar 29 of the swinging frame is of angle cross section (Fig. 3), and when the check-head is closed this bar embraces the upper and outer sides of the stationary web or bar 27. The check-head normally held closed by a latch 35 which is pivotally su pported on the stationary frame 13y on a lug 36 extending therefrom.` The nose or operative end of the latchr is normally held in latching engagement over the swinging frame bar 29 (Fig. by a compression spring 37 confined. between the latch and the stationary frame. The latch is adapted: to be released through tripping actuation of ay relatively large forli 38 which is disposed somewhat in advance of the check-head. In ythe preferred construction shown, the fork is constructed as a unitary part of the latch. But it will be obvious that the fork need not 'be integral with the latch, any other mechanism to secure the same result being within the purview of my invention. It will be noted that the arms ofy the large fork 38 are spaced relatively `tar apart so that there is no possibility of one of the check row buttons B tripping the large fork. Y

For tripping this large fork, a relatively large dofiing button Dv is mounted on the check-Wire at each end` of the row. Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be noted that this but-ton comprises two semi-circular plate members 41 and 42 which are pivotally connected together at 43, so that the. two plates or sections can be swung apart to the open position shown in Fig. 5, or can be folded tolil-5 lgetherto the closed position slio\if'1iini"ig.4 rlhe inner meeting edges of the two Sections are prrnfidedV `with* companion notches 144 which are adapted to closetogethei over the wire. To strengthen the pivotal connection between the two halves of the button, fthe i section is constructed withspaced side portions (see Fig. 6) bet-Ween which is donned a guide yspace 45.

which swings in the guide space 45', said eX'- tension 46 entering this guide space through a slot '47 which is cut' in the edge of the 'sec-jJ tion 42. lt will' be'noted that Whenfthe two button sections are "closed to 'ether Lthe' spaced side portions of the section 42-overlap each side of the segmental extensionlli,

i thus'firmly holding` the two sections together against twistingniovement. The sectionf'42 is' preferablyv constructed by *folding a v ,cir`

cular disc along a substantially vdiametrical line' to produce -thefspaced side port1ons. f,

ininates at one 'side of the notch 44 inthe button 4l, and the inner edge ofthe detentfll liesI the opposite side ofthe notch. Thus these two edges rforni a tapering` guide, for guiding' the wire into'the notch 44, as the but ton sections are being'clo-sed together over the wire. Referring tovFigsl and2,itwillbeseen thatthe doiiingf button 'D is always mounted directly onA one of the usual check vrow buttons B. The not-ches44 ofthe doli'nig button are placed to engageover the/,loops Yofthe check row button, whereby thedofnglbut- Y ton is positively held` against slidingrnove# ment in eithery direction bythe shoulders l.or

projections Z).

In the operation of the dofiing mechanism,

a doiiin'g button D is mounted` at eachfend of' the check-wire C-at points :corresponding to the opposite ends of the' rowto be planted i; e.A

the distance between the `'two doffng buttons defines substantially -the-length of the 'rovv which will'be planted.` have found that best results are obtained when the doflingbuttons -1 are Vspaced inwardly'froni-the anchor stakes a distance]corresponding;y to several check row buttons'B. As illustrative `of theabove, I'havefound that itis preferable to space the dotling button at least four buttons V(B) from the anchor stake,l in :thecaseilof atworow The other button section 4l is formed with a segmental extension46- lt will Vbe observed.thatKL the innery curved edge of the Iguidel extension 4645er-,V

planter, 'and seventoI eightlbuttons"fronrthe' y anchor stake,in thfeicase 'of a threer row plant l n er1? `,This is' to insure that the automaticdoff fing operation willv occur before/that'portion ,offthe check-,wirebetweenjfthe stake anchor andthe approaching implement isi caused nto extend at a relativ-ely sharp' angle,.with re# spect'to theremaininglength of-the wire eX-4 tendingfacross the yfield; Asisk well .known Y f to those'familiar withcheck rowplantingopfr erationsywhen theplanting implement has n been -.tiirned .atl the Lend of the liieldA vand Ais in 1 v'ri'osition to plant thefnext succeeding set of Y L rows,the Voperator vdr'aws'fthe stake anchor at that end of the field, shifting itandthe check# p Wire to a position directly back of the trans# verse center of theev implement, where the stalelis resetivithfthelresultthat the anchor i stakes"l are;` alwayslocatedl at 4points so situated` aty the ends vof.l the that when J the n planting -imjgilement)is approaching one end offfthe field," kalong; the previously formed marker line,thest'a-ke atthatvend ofthe field rvis'not directly infront ofthe planter, or in direct alignment with the course- ,ofl travel' of gr' I theimplenient, but issituatedV odio one 'side thereof, i.V e. laterallyina direction toward the previously plantedk portion 'ofthe field. At this timefthe check-wire is,-of course, en.-

gaging in the'check-head that-is on the side of theimpleinent that istowardthe part of the ield'fthathasvbeenplanted.k AstheinrA i plement approachesl` the stake" anchor that portion of the wire'between said anchor and the ycheck-'head' lassumes a continuouslyin-k I" creasing 4angle with respect to the direction of thexvi're extending rearwardly from theV implement,n which angle rcausesr angincreasingr tension to be placed upon the wire.` f This ten? sion actslengthwiseofithewire and'also acts f fg;

in *la direction tending to`r lpull thewire outfywardly jin a ylateral direction from the 4checkhead, such outwardpull beingk resisted bythe rollers 33 kon. the pivoted frame 'T29 of the check-headlllfThe predeterminedlocationfof f thedoer button .D on :the check-wire, 'as above described, results inthe doiiing bperation occurring automatically before the `increasing tension in the Wire can tip the stake atthe oppositeend'ofrthe field, or pullvthc i sainev out of the ground,orbefore this tension that thedofiingbuttn'D strikes the doiiing fork 38 the wire fis, however, lundersuflicientz E tensiont'o insure instant opening ofthe check head; EAS illustrated in dotted lines,.in Fig. 3, when ,the latch Szsztripped, the -pivoted frame member y29Lswings; outwardly and'V downwardly, permittingthewire to slip outfvr Wardly lolf the endsof thegspools ,33. Atthe saine time, 'thetension ofthe Wire causes the check fork 19 y'to swing outwardly, whereby lthe'w'irje 'is :permittedy to slip kout of thejfork.

It will be noted from Figrlthat thedofling i can deterimentally-affect the accuracy of the checkat the end iof the'field.Y `At theftime with the tripping of the latch 35 the dofhng button can free itself from the doiting fork. The downward Swingin movement of the pivoted frame is limited y one of the spoolsl striking a lug 51 projecting from one of the arms of the stationary frame. Similarly, the outward swinging movement of the fork 19 is limited, substantially to the dottedV line position shown in Fig. 3, by the lower end of the fork striking the lugs 23. It is advantageous to limitthe outward swinging movement of the pivoted frame and of the check fork in the kmanner indicated, so that after the planter has been turned and the check-wire has been replaced in the check fork the check-head can be closed by merely pulling on the wire. In this regard, it will be noted that the pivoted frame 29^has a lug 52 projecting therefrom at itsirear end. When the check-wire is replaced in the'check fork, after the planter has been turned and the stake anchor shifted to its new position, it bears against this lug and when a pull is exerted on the wire it acts through such lug to swing the pivoted frame upwardly to latched position.

. In addition to serving as a gage clement for determining the point of dofling of the wire, each doiling button also serves as a gage or indicating element for indicating the point where the next succeeding set of rows should be started. Aftcrthe implement has been turned around at the end .of the field it is driven backalong the next set of rows suiciently far to place the doing button just in rear of theclicck-head that is then toward the planted side of the field. It will be evident that if the wire were engaged in the check-head with the dofiing button located in front of the check-head, the latter would be openedY immediately upon the forward movement of the'implement. Thus the dating button serves as an indicating element which determines where 'the next succeeding row shall be started, and hence insures uniffgnity of cross checking at the ends of the It will, of course, be understood that in the above description and in the appended claims I have used the term check row Wire merely in a rrepresentative sense, and that such includes any eqnivalentfcable or the like havingk rejections thereon for securing check rom opping of the seeds.

Whatl claim as my invention, and desire tosecure'by LettersPatent, is

Il. The combination with a planting impleurent comprising a check-head f and a check-row Wire cooperating therewith, of releasable holding means comprising part of said? check-head? for 'normally holding the oheck-'row'wire in operative position in the and cooperating members on said check-head and 011 said check-wire adapted' by their engagement to release said holding means from said check-head for automatically doiing said wire.

2. In a planting mechanism vof the class described, the combination of a check-head comprising a valve operating member adapted to be actuated by the check-row buttons on a check-Wire, releasable holding means on said check-head for normally holding said check-row Wire in operative position, and means adapted to be actuated by a relatively large projection on the check-wire to automatically release said holding means from the check-head for doing the wire from said check-head.

3. In a planting mechanism ofthe class described, the combination of a check-head com prising stationary and movable frame members, and a valve operating member adapted to be actuated by the check-row buttons on a check-wire,and means adapted to be actuated by a relatively large doing projection on the check-wire for automatically moving said movable frame lnember for dofling the Wire at the end of the planting row.

4. In planting mechanism of the class described, -the combination of a check-head adapted tobc opened and closed and comprising a valve operating member adapted to' be actuated by the check-row buttons on a check-Wire, and latch means adapted to be tripped by a relatively large doffing button mounted on the check-wire adjacent to the end of the row, for permitting the checkhead to open and thc wire to be do'fed automatically.

5. In planting mechanism of thc class dei scribed, the combination of a check-head adapted to be opened and closed and com-prising a valve operating member adapted to be actuated by the check-row buttons on a checkwire, latch means for holding said checkhead closed, cooperating fork means for disengaging said latch means, and a relatively large doling button mounted on the checkwire at the end of the row, said dofling button being adapted to engageV said fork means and release said latch means for permitting' said check-head to open.

6. In a planting implement, the combina' tion with a check-head comprising a check fork and stationary and movable frame meinbers having guide means for guiding a checkwire through said fork, of aV latch for holdingrsaid frame members in operative association, a tripping fork for releasing said latch, and a dofling button on said check-wire operable to engage said latter fork for releasing said latch.

7. In a planting implement, the ycombination with a check-head comprising a stationary frame and a, movable frame, a check fork adapted to bel actuated by the buttons on a check-wire, and guide spools on said frames for guiding the `wire throughV said check fork, of latch means for holding said frames Y in operative association, atrippingfork for releasing said latch means, said tripping fork permitting said krcheck-row buttons to pass through said latter forkwithout actuating the same, and relatively largey oloffing 'buttons mounted on said wire for engagingA said tripping fork and releasing said latch means', whereby said movable frame is permitted to swing outwardly to free the checkwire from said check-head. V

8. A doling button forthe purpose 1desoribed comprising two pivotally connected plates adapted tok be closed together over 'the checl-wireo Y y 9. A doiingbutton comprising two pivotally connected members adapted to be closed together over the check-wire7 and detent means for holding said members in wire-engaging relation. j

Y 10. A doing button comprising two piv-V otally connected plates having companion edges adapted to be closed together over the check-wire, one ofsaid edges having a wire Y receiving opening thereinV adapted to be i c-llosed by the companion edge of the other p ate. o 1

1l. A doling button'comprising two piv`` fotally connected plates adapted to befclosed" together over the wire, one of the two meet` y ing edges of said plates having a wire reeeiving opening therein adapted to be closed by the meeting edge of the other plate, and de-V tent means for holding said plates connected together over the wire.

12.V A doffing button comprising two pivotally connected members adapted t0 be closed vtogether overithe wire, one voffsaid m members comprising spaced side portions, and the other of said members having a guide portion adapted to move between said spaced iV side portions when said members are closed together.

n n CHARLES rH. WHITE. 

